Got the BASSMaster ProGuide today and it has an article about what some of the top pros make from their sponsorship deals.

The numbers are, quite simply, mind-boggling.

They listed six and here they are.

Skeet Reese - $600 000

Gerald Swindle - $515 000

KVD - $500 000

Jason Quinn - $400 000

Ike - $370 000 (more before he lost his Ranger sponsorship after last year's Classic)

Marty Stone - $320 000

I was surprised that Reese gets more than an established angler like KVD.  

It pales in comparison....

Tiger Woods endorsement of NIKE was worth $100,000,000. I know it's not a fair comparison, just a trivial fact.

Ronnie

The article said that sometime in the near future, someone like Ike or KVD (doubtful) would probably sign a big-time deal with a sponsor like Nike.

I could see Ike, Reese, or Swindle signing such a deal, but I don't think you would ever see KVD sign a deal like that.

Assuming, of course, that the Elite Series continues to get good coverage on ESPN.

Even at $600k, that is chump change compared to what other "athletes" make.   Until major players like Nike see the benefits to the industry that is.

Can you imagine a pair of Nike "Skeet Reese" edition bass boat shoes?  

lol I would be willing to bet that Skeet's Nike Air Bass Shoes

would be black and yellow.

JT Bagwell

Even at $600k, that is chump change compared to what other "athletes" make.

That's because they are "athlete's",...a very important job position in our country.  My sister is a teacher, That job is only worth 35k.  

We all know it is not how much the anglers get, it is how much revenue they can generate for the sponsor that matters. How about a 30 second spot on the superbowl? There has to be the hope of a payback for the companies or it won't happen. It just boils down to spending money to make money.

For me it seems to be--spend money to go fishing. 8-)

Even at $600k, that is chump change compared to what other "athletes" make. Until major players like Nike see the benefits to the industry that is.

Can you imagine a pair of Nike "Skeet Reese" edition bass boat shoes?

It is very unlikely that fishing pros will ever be money makers. Revenues are driven by television, spectator friendly sports. With the exception of a very small "cult" following, bass fishing on tv is never going to be "big."

I think it is unfortunate that so many young anglers aspire to be professional fishermen. With the exception of just a hand full of people, this is a dead end career path. Potential earnings are VERY limited. Persuing a career at the professional level is better suited as a sideline or second career. I suspect the "average" earnings for the top 100 pros (after expenses) is negative, but that would almost definitely be the case if the sample were the top 200. Financial success is limited to a very select group.

RW,

If you go to Jay Kumar's site, there is a listing of how much

each angler won this past season. These figures look decent

right off the bat, but this doesn't account for the $60,000 in

entry fees, hotels, gas, trucks, boats, food, etc.

I used to get asked a lot, why I didn't try to fish the tours. My

response was always that I already make more money than

85% - 90% of the tour Pros.

I for one like to have a secure income and leave the fishing

industry as my 2nd income.

JT Bagwell

On top of their salary, they also get all tournament fees paid, free gas, truck, boat electronics, tackle, clothes, etc, etc, etc. Don't forget that they have numerous sponsors, and are getting paid by more than one company. Also, on top of all that pay, they get all of their winnings too... Also, any profits for making appearances, their personal brands of tackle, fishing shows, etc.

Keep in mind also that only the cream of the crop are making this kind of money. Most of the other pros are just making enough money to keep fishing. While the least paid sports athelete is breaking the bank...

I agree that it is not nearly the pay of other prime sports, but they aren't hurting either... My friend is an FLW pro, and even the he doesn't always make the cut, he still makes enough money to support his family and have a nice lifestyle. He also just finished 10th on Okeechobee which helps a bit too...

Very few are getting free boats, trucks, gas, etc.

As stated previously, most are just making enough

to keep fishing.

JT Bagwell

I heard (and this could be WAY off) but that they spend in a season about $55k.

If you're not placing even in 10th, and sponsors are not beating down your door, yep I can see negative balances in your finances.

I wanted when I was younger to fish professionally, but it's too hard $ wise.

Now ironically I am after only big fish, so the run and gun/beat the bank/ won't work.

Ish Monoroe hasn't been one of the top money guys for years until this last season, yet he can afford to buy some top dollar land in Texas and build another home.   (Vacation home at that).

        I don't think those numbers are even close to what they really do make.    Theres alot more money being made than reported to us.     Just how many of those guys show their true earnings?     Kind of like Marcia Rubin on here talking about what sponsor do and don't do, yet actual numbers are never mentioned, so just how factual can BassMaster Magazine be?

Its taboo to discuss deals, why would BASS be any different?    

Matt

Ish has always made good money on the West Coast and he

does a lot of promotional work.

There are some West Coast guys that have over $1,000,000 in

winnings and have never fished the two major tours.

JT Bagwell

Not to be arguementitive, but are they just getting by, or are they doing pretty well? Two statements, two different meanings. Which is it?

There are lots of pros who have been on tour for 10 years, 15 yrs, and 20+, and they haven't stopped due to lack of funds over the years when bass fishing was truly in its lean years.

I think some could walk away right now and not have to ever work another day.

By the way, on another site, it shows winnings in 2006, over 60 anglers are listed to have made over 100K for 2006. That is winnings, and has nothing to do with sponsorship monies, or percentage of product sold, or seminars.   27 of them are BASS.

Matt

RW and JT have hit the nail on the head! This industry is SMALL and limited. In fact it

gets smaller every year! My husband has been in the sportfishing industry for 25 years,

16 of those years with his own company. We are starting to diversify outside the industry.

Anglers that fish regional or local trails, stand a MUCH better chance of financing their

passion or addiction to tournament angling. MANY anglers go broke trying to keep up

with travel expenses, entry fees, gas, etc!

I am kind of on the LBH groove.I really don't give a thought into what these guys, who have worked hard make, not my concern! I do however wonder why movie stars and athletes and STARS in general make so much as compared to First Responders,Cops,Teachers,Soldiers Things seem a wee bit out of wack :-[

On the skirts of the subject, a driver asked me this morning why UPS doesn't sponsor a pro trail angler, they have Dale Jarred in Nascar so why Nnot BASS?  I told him that the $$ they put in Nascar pretty much covers , demographically, a huge portion of the target group in Bass fishing. (that's an assumption on my part)

Hey LBH I have a spot on my 12 foot battered and mishandled aluminum boat for a UPS decal  :

Maybe I need to go reread that article but it is my understanding that the money those guys were getting was from sponsorship money only and provided they get in the money for there tournament fishing that could end up makeing them a nice chunk of change beyond what was printed in the magazine.

Even at $600k, that is chump change compared to what other "athletes" make.

That's because they are "athlete's",...a very important job position in our country. My sister is a teacher, That job is only worth 35k.

sickening,isn't it?it's because most americans support those athletes.if nobody watched it or spent money on it it wouldn't be that way.it's called poor priorties.

I am kind of on the LBH groove.I really don't give a thought into what these guys, who have worked hard make, not my concern! I do however wonder why movie stars and athletes and STARS in general make so much as compared to First Responders,Cops,Teachers,Soldiers Things seem a wee bit out of wack :-[

Go to a movie theater on a Friday night and stand in line for an hour and you'll see why they are making so much. $7.50  just to see a movie. Lunacy.

RW and JT have hit the nail on the head! This industry is SMALL and limited. In fact it

gets smaller every year! My husband has been in the sportfishing industry for 25 years,

16 of those years with his own company. We are starting to diversify outside the industry.

Anglers that fish regional or local trails, stand a MUCH better chance of financing their

passion or addiction to tournament angling. MANY anglers go broke trying to keep up

with travel expenses, entry fees, gas, etc!

LANE MAKES A GREAT POINT.  

I KNOW MANY TEAM TRAILS TO WHERE THE ANGLERS CAN PAY OFF ONE SEASON OF EVENTS WITH ONE WIN OFF THE WEEKEND DIVISIONS(5 EVENTS)....AND A COUPLE OF WINS OFF THE WEEKNIGHT DIVISIONS(12 EVENTS) WILL PUT YOU THERE TOO.

ALSO..FOR SOME TRAILS...IF YOU ARE A DIRECTOR...YOUR WHOLE YEAR IS PAID FOR ANYWAYS...... :

Go to a movie theater on a Friday night and stand in line for an hour and you'll see why they are making so much. $7.50  just to see a movie. Lunacy.

Where do you live? You can't get into a matinee where I live for $7.50, more like $9.00. Go figure......

I understand that only a small percentage really make the big bucks,but I'd certainly tale that chump change of a half a mil a year to go fishing !